Official Squatch Watchers

[FlyingNunFarm]

Oddly enough my herding dog is terrible at herding. She'd rather chase and then eat....
On the other hand my 10lb Chihuahua can herd like nobody's business.

 

[WVduckchick]

Sending Good Hatching vibes to all who want them

I'll take some! Thank you!

Sucks about your broodies..... I wish I could get ONE to go broody!!! yeeeesh

Currently, the STDH is gone until the 19 or the 22nd, not sure which yet..... which leaves me the PIC to help herd the ducks..... and he's not really terrific with following directions in that front. I'd found out littlest duck, Dusty, in the main hen coop.... asked the PIC to go into the run and close the coop door once I scooted all the chickens out so I could open the OUTSIDE coop door for Dusty.... PIC proceeded to hold OPEN the RUN DOOR.... so 2/3rds of the chickens got out and we spent a good hour herding them back into the run..... so yeah...... the PIC helping would be a no go.....


I just don't wanna see any of the ducks get plucked... but no adults around to help.....

Careful what you wish for!

Ducks can be easier to herd at close to dark too.
You can also try holding a couple long sticks. Arms out front, in a wide V shape.

My rain barrel is full of frog eggs! I like frogs but I had that barrel screened so they wouldn't do that in there but they've obviously found a way. Guess i'm using the hose until those frogs bake.

OMG, I noticed little tadpoles in my boat.
Then I heard this HUGE sounding bull frog.
Then I found the little fella.... I have no idea how that mighty sound came out of that tiny body.

 

[21hens-incharge]

It is 94° with a 61% humidity.



Feels much hotter.

I think I will put puppies down for a nap and go get watermelon for my birdies.

 

[Rubysword]

Who here has Welsummers?
Me, @Rubysword...
Anyone else?

Have you noticed that they are more “prone” to bumblefoot than other breeds?

My australorp never had them. None of the buffs have ever had them. But
BOTH my Welsummers toy with little ones all the time.

Coop is always clean with thick soft litter
Roosting bar should probably be changed from the smooth 2x2 that it is to a 2x4 maybe...
Run is sand dirt mix.

Free ranging is the issue.

they free range, which is along an area of what I can only describe as a strip of pine and magnolia trees 12-18 x90 feet long.

Underfoot is years of tree litter -very soft and bouncy to walk on, that the girls are turning into some incredible composted soil.
But, thanks to the squirrels in the canopy up above, who sit on high branches eating the seeds from the pine cones and dropping the empty petals to the ground. Each of these has a tiny sharp pokey thing on the tip.

It is impossible to “clean them up” but the chicken’s scratching behavior generally turn them downward under the naturally occurring and always renewing pine straw
layer. Also impossible to rid the property of squirrels. I’m in a neighborhood full of pine trees in a town full of pine trees in a state full of pine trees !

Honestly I haven’t felt good for a week. I’ve been struggling with an intestinal bug, and although I’ve kept up with their normal cleaning and care, I haven’t spent much time (in the heat) sitting , snuggling or inspecting like I usually do.

Last night I saw that Ashley has a big bumble on each foot.

I’m going to soak her this afternoon and see what I’m dealing with. Then formulate a plan.

Sure wish I had an extra set of chicken hands here!

I’m cursing myself for all the Jersey type sheets sets I threw away that used to be on my kids beds.
It dawned on me last night as I was brainstorming that the material would have been perfect for swaddling a chicken!
And, man! How perfect would a curved changing table pad with a wide Velcro strap be for dealing with a chicken without a helper?!?

I have them, but I've never had to deal with bumble. I'll keep my eyes open, though!

 

[staceyj]

Soaked
Scrubbed
Sterilized
Squeezed
Scooped
Medicated
Bandaged.
Two feet on one and 1 on the other.

I love the 1 inch vet wrap.

Filed their nails
Gave one beak a tiny trim then filed that.
Washed their fluffy butts.
Gave each a thorough exam for pests.
Gave some treats.
Put them back out to play.
They were good as gold.


NEXT!

I’ll keep you posted with progress.

 

[Molpet]

It dawned on me last night as I was brainstorming that the material would have been perfect for swaddling a chicken!
And, man! How perfect would a curved changing table pad with a wide Velcro strap be for dealing with a chicken without a helper?!?

Beekissed made a sling the held the chickens body and had the legs dangling

 

[staceyj]

FYI - a small stainless steel cuticle nipper worked great to open up the hole without tatering it all up like a blade does.
(It was new and super sharp)

So precise!

 

[Chickassan]

You should try a small dermal punch some time, talk about awesome sometimes you'll even get the core with it and its fast!

FYI - a small stainless steel cuticle nipper worked great to open up the hole without tatering it all up like a blade does.
(It was new and super sharp)

So precise!

Ohhh ya'll I got my pine-sol today, i'm so flippin happy!

 

[staceyj]

You should try a small dermal punch some time, talk about awesome sometimes you'll even get the core with it and its fast!
Ohhh ya'll I got my pine-sol today, i'm so flippin happy!

I wish I had one!
Those double end zit poppers do well as a scoop

 

[staceyj]

We are such gross people.